YEAR 9 HUMANITIES THE ORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS

This Aboriginal learning unit of work aims to:

The original Australians Australia was discovered and settled by Indigenous Australians around 40 – 60,000 years prior to White settlement. Australia was discovered and settled by Indigenous Australians around 40 – 60,000 years prior to White settlement.

What does the word Aborigine mean? Having existed in a region from the beginning Having existed in a region from the beginning A person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times. A person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times. Having existed in a region from the beginning: for example, aboriginal forests Having existed in a region from the beginning: for example, aboriginal forests You can say: “An aboriginal inhabitant of Australia” You can say: “An aboriginal inhabitant of Australia”

What does the word ‘Indigenous’ mean? Similar meaning to the word aborigine Similar meaning to the word aborigine Indigenous means ‘Native-born’, or first Indigenous means ‘Native-born’, or first Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment

What do you know about Indigenous Australia? What do you know? What do you want to know?

ABORIGINES GROUPED IN TRIBAL NATIONS There were generally around 700 separate tribal nations in Australia. There were generally around 700 separate tribal nations in Australia. This map indicates only the general location of larger groupings of people which may include smaller groups such as clans, dialects or individual languages in a group. This map indicates only the general location of larger groupings of people which may include smaller groups such as clans, dialects or individual languages in a group. Click on this website to find out more information about each tribal nation s/map/default.htm Click on this website to find out more information about each tribal nation s/map/default.htm

On your map of Australia locate the language group for Melbourne and write it on your map. Look up the Internet to help you.

How many languages were there among the 700 nations? There were approximately 250 languages There were approximately 250 languages Understanding each other was easy as there were often similarities between languages Understanding each other was easy as there were often similarities between languages There were often different dialects that distinguished each nation – that is certain, words and phrases were used in quite different ways. There were often different dialects that distinguished each nation – that is certain, words and phrases were used in quite different ways.

Looking at this map of Victoria, how many nations can you count?

Where did the Aborigines come from? Next lesson (see Flipchart presentation) Next lesson (see Flipchart presentation)